Adam Rittenberg ESPN Staff Writer

Sources: Northwestern is hiring Kurt Anderson as its new offensive line coach. Anderson spent last season as an analyst for Northwestern after coaching offensive line at Arkansas in 2016 and 2017. He also has coached offensive line with the Buffalo Bills and at Eastern Michigan. Anderson replaces Adam Cushing, the new Eastern Illinois head coach.

William Weinbaum ESPN

Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald, asked after NU's 31-20 Holiday Bowl victory over Utah on Fox Sports' telecast about the Packers' reported interest in him as a candidate for their vacant head coaching job, said: "I'm not going anywhere, this is home forever...I'm a Wildcat for life."

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William Weinbaum ESPN

After trailing 20-3 at halftime, N'western's 28-0 3rd Q were a Holiday Bowl & NU Bowl record for points in a quarter — and NU beat Utah 31-20 for a school-record 3rd straight Bowl win & 4th win in its last 5. The victory came on the eve of the 70th anniversary of its other Bowl victory - 20-14 over Cal. in the ‘49 Rose.

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Northwestern takes strip sack 82 yards to the house (0:36)

William Weinbaum ESPN

N'western's 28 unanswered points in the 3rd Q to take a 31-20 Holiday Bowl lead vs. Utah are its most in a quarter of any of its 15 Bowls. Its previous high was 22, to take a 22-0 lead in the first Q of a 50-38 loss to UCLA in the 2005 Sun Bowl.

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Northwestern INT, 52-yard gain set up TD pass (0:46)

William Weinbaum ESPN

Utah's 20-3 lead is N'western's largest halftime Bowl deficit since it trailed Texas Tech 24-6 in the 1/1/11 Ticket City. The Red Raiders won 45-38 (NU's 38 tied its most in a Bowl, with a 50-38 loss to UCLA in the ‘05 Sun). In its 14 previous Bowls, NU had never been held below 6 points in the 1st half.

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Utah's 2nd TD comes on short pass (0:28)

William Weinbaum ESPN

With Utah taking a 14-0 Holiday Bowl lead, Northwestern opponents have scored first & led at the end of the 1st Q in 7 of NU's last 8 Bowls (3 won by NU before Mon.).

The Green Bay Packers are expected to request an interview with Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald for their vacant head-coaching job, a league source told ESPN.

William Weinbaum ESPN

Nine Bowl teams have graduation success rates of at least 90%, according to the NCAA. Mon.'s Holiday Bowl is the only game featuring two such teams: Northwestern 99% & Utah 95%.

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William Weinbaum ESPN

Two head coaches have won Bowls for N'western — both were also Big Ten champs & All-Americans as NU players. Bob Voigts won the 1/1/49 Rose Bowl & Pat Fitzgerald has Gator, Pinstripe & Music City Bowl wins. Mon.'s Holiday Bowl vs. Utah will be NU's third Bowl in CA (‘49 & ‘96 Rose).

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Adam Rittenberg ESPN Staff Writer

A rematch of the 2018 Big Ten championship game will take place on a Friday night next fall as Northwestern will host Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 18, at Ryan Field. Northwestern informed its season-ticket holders of the new date earlier today. This is the teams' first meeting in Evanston since 2013. The Big Ten is maintaining a limited Friday night schedule for league games, which also includes Penn State at Maryland next fall.

In addition to all-conference teams, here are the top players, coaches and freshmen from each Power 5 league.

Adam Rittenberg ESPN Staff Writer

Eastern Illinois is hiring Northwestern offensive line coach Adam Cushing as its new head coach, sources tell ESPN. Football Scoop first reported the hire. A formal announcement is expected Monday. Cushing spent the past 14 seasons on Northwestern's staff.

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Adam Rittenberg ESPN Staff Writer

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald just now on Urban Meyer's retirement: "He's a great guy and an amazing football coach. Obviously, any time someone of his success leaves our game, it's disappointing, so we wish him nothing but the best health-wise, and the best in his future endeavors." Fitzgerald was surprised by the news and said he and Meyer didn't discuss Meyer's health or future before Saturday's Big Ten championship game.

From Dec. 15 through Jan. 7, the Celebration Bowl through the CFP National Championship, Adam Rittenberg picks his winners for bowl season.

William Weinbaum ESPN

Big Ten West champ N'western (8-5) faces PAC-12 South champ Utah (9-4) for the 3rd time ever in the 12/31 Holiday Bowl. The Utes won 42-0 on 9/26/81 (when NU went 0-11 during a record 34-game losing streak) & the Wildcats won 13-6 on 10/8/27.